Thoughts on Going Global and Building an International Brand

When I first started running SoftwareHut back in 2015, and co-founded TenderHut Group with Waldemar Birk, little did I know how fast we will grow. Back then, our first goal was to build a consulting company – then, to consolidate the market of IT software development.

Time has once more proven that going global was an even better move for us.

However, when I say "going global”, I’m talking about more than 90% of our current revenues coming from projects delivered for international clients, including through our eight foreign branches. Just recently we’ve opened a new Solution4Labs’ office in China, and SoftwareHut’s brand new office in Denmark, run by the brothers Thomas and Martin Birk.

We didn’t abandon our plan to bring Polish IT companies together, though – today we run offices in 7 different locations in Poland, hiring over 270 employees, with our development centres in Bia?ystok, Warsaw, Wroc?aw, Szczecin, Olsztyn and Przemy?l.

We’re the initiators of many projects related to the development of the Polish IT industry, including the national SoDA initiative bringing together IT employers.

Does this strategy work?

So how does it work for us; this mix of building up our presence in Poland, while simultaneously opening new offices and branches abroad? I’m happy to say that it seems to be working magic.

To this day, we’ve ranked high in Deloitte’s Fast 50 CE, Deloitte’s Fast 500 EMEA, and FT Europe’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Recently, I’ve also been named as one of the people in Poland shaping the business, according to Business Insider Poland.

How have we implemented this strategy?

To reach over 90% of revenue coming from international projects, we’ve had to change our mindset, first:

• How to acquire foreign clients?
• Where to find them?
• How do we persuade them to hire us?

First, we hired partners responsible for different markets in Europe and the United States. Our approach enabled us to focus on specific needs, recognise opportunities, plan business trips, meet with investors, attend meetings, etc. Gradually, we’ve become better acquainted with each market to provide precise, tailor-made solutions for each client.

Another aspect is finding a partner, and such was the case with our company, Solution4Labs. Today, they are the only authorised partner of Thermo Fisher Scientific in Poland, and a partner for the UK and France. Based on this collaboration and partnering with Microsoft, we’ve also come up with an idea for a product, Holo4Labs, which has been recently awarded Innovative Initiative of the Year during the Emerging Europe conference in London.

Zonifero and Automated Check-in are just another set of examples of start-ups we grow, further expanding our area of expertise.

Building the team, first

Recently, I wrote a post here on LinkedIn about the role of innovation in team management in leadership. I do firmly believe that how we manage our team is a part of this growing international success that TenderHut is experiencing.

Our group is unique not only because of its work but also because of its efforts aimed at enhancing the entire IT community. This, for instance, refers to the SoftwareHut Speaking initiative, building a conference centre in Bia?ystok, organising meetups, and promoting self-development.

We’re happy about the growth we’ve been experiencing so far and have even higher expectations for the next three years that are ahead of us!